Patents by Inventor Tokuyuki Nakayama

Tokuyuki Nakayama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9543447
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an oxide semiconductor thin film, which has relatively high carrier mobility and is suitable as a channel layer material for a TFT, from an oxynitride crystalline thin film. According to the present invention, a crystalline oxynitride semiconductor thin film is obtained by annealing an amorphous oxynitride semiconductor thin film containing In, O, and N or an amorphous oxynitride semiconductor thin film containing In, O, N, and an additional element M, where M is one or more elements selected from among Zn, Ga, Ti, Si, Ge, Sn, W, Mg, Al, Y and rare earth elements, at a heating temperature of 200° C. or more for a heating time of 1 minute to 120 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Nishimura, Tokuyuki Nakayama, Masashi Iwara
  • Publication number: 20160348230
    Abstract: An oxide sintered body which, when made into an oxide semiconductor thin film by sputtering, can achieve low carrier density and high carrier mobility, and a sputtering target using said oxide sintered body are provided. This oxide sintered body contains indium, gallium and zinc as oxides. The gallium content is 0.08 or more and less than 0.20 in terms of Ga/(In+Ga) atomic ratio, and the zinc content is 0.0001 or more and less than 0.08 in terms of Zn/(In+Ga+Zn) atomic ratio. This crystalline oxide semiconductor thin film is formed with the oxide sintered body as a sputtering target, and can achieve a carrier density of 8.0×1017 cm?3 or less and a carrier mobility of 10 cm2/V·s or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki NAKAYAMA, Eiichiro NISHIMURA, Fumihiko MATSUMURA, Masashi IWARA
  • Publication number: 20160348229
    Abstract: An oxide sintered body which, when made into an oxide semiconductor thin film by sputtering, can achieve low carrier density and high carrier mobility, and a sputtering target using said oxide sintered body are provided. This oxide sintered body contains indium, gallium and zinc as oxides. The gallium content is 0.20 or more and 0.49 or less in terms of Ga/(In+Ga) atomic ratio, and the zinc content is 0.0001 or more and less than 0.08 in terms of Zn/(In+Ga+Zn) atomic ratio. This amorphous oxide semiconductor thin film is formed with the oxide sintered body as a sputtering target, and can achieve a carrier density of 4.0×1018 cm?3 or less and a carrier mobility of 10 cm2/V*s or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki NAKAYAMA, Eiichiro NISHIMURA, Fumihiko MATSUMURA, Masashi IWARA
  • Patent number: 9493869
    Abstract: A crystalline transparent conductive film containing indium oxide as a main component, and cerium, exhibiting low resistance derived from high refractive index and high carrier electron mobility, as well as small surface roughness, which is obtained by film-formation using an ion plating method. In the film, cerium content is 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomic number ratio of Ce/(In+Ce); film-formation is made using an ion plating method; and arithmetic average height (Ra) is 1.0 nm or lower. Also the film can contain one or more of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, molybdenum and tungsten, at a content of 1% by atom or lower, as an atomic number ratio of M/(In+Ce+M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9368639
    Abstract: An oxide crystalline thin film is used to provide an oxide semiconductor thin film that has comparatively high carrier mobility and is suitable as TFT channel layer material. Oxide semiconductor thin film is obtained by performing an annealing process on an amorphous oxide semiconductor thin film comprising an oxide including indium and titanium where the titanium content is 0.005 to 0.12 by a Ti/In atomic ratio at a heating temperature of 250° C. or greater and processing time of 1 minute to 120 minutes. The oxide semiconductor thin film is crystalline and comprises only the In2O3 phase of bixbyite type structure, and has carrier density that is 1×1019 cm?3, and carrier mobility that is 1 cm2/Vsec or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20160163865
    Abstract: Provided is a crystalline oxide semiconductor thin film comprising only bixbyite-structured In2O3 phase, suitable as a channel layer material for a thin film transistor, and having excellent etching properties in an amorphous state and a low carrier density and high carrier mobility in a crystalline state. An amorphous oxide thin film is formed using, as a target, an oxide sintered body which comprises indium, gallium, oxygen, and unavoidable impurities, the gallium content being in a range of 0.09 to 0.45 in terms of a Ga/(In+Ga) atomic ratio, has a In2O3 phase having a bixbyite structure as the main crystal phase, and has a GaInO3 phase having a ?-Ga2O3-type structure, or a GaInO3 phase having a ?-Ga2O3-type structure and a (Ga, In)2O3 phase finely dispersed therein. The amorphous oxide thin film is finely processed by performing etching using photolithography, and is annealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Tokuyuki NAKAYAMA, Eiichiro NISHIMURA, Masashi WARA
  • Patent number: 9340867
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tablet for ion plating, which is capable of providing high speed film formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a solar cell, and continuing film formation without generating crack, fracture or splash; and an oxide sintered body for obtaining the same. The oxide sintered body etc. comprising indium oxide as a main component, and tungsten as an additive element, content of tungsten being 0.001 to 0.15, as an atomic ratio of W/(In+W), characterized in that said oxide sintered body is mainly composed of a crystal grain (A) composed of the indium oxide phase with a bixbyite type structure, where tungsten does not make a solid solution, and a crystal grain (B) composed of the indium oxide phase with a bixbyite type structure, where tungsten does not make a solid solution, and has a density of 3.4 to 5.5 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9299791
    Abstract: An oxide crystalline thin film having a comparatively high carrier mobility and suitable as TFT channel layer material is provided. The oxide semiconductor thin film of the present invention comprises an oxide that includes indium and tungsten, with the tungsten content in the W/In atomic ratio being 0.005 to 0.12, is crystalline, comprises only the In2O3 phase of bixbyite structure, and has a carrier density of 1×1018 cm?3 or less and a carrier mobility of higher than 1 cm2/Vsec. The oxide is able to include zinc further with the zinc content in the Z/In atomic ratio of 0.05 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20160020328
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an oxide semiconductor thin film, which has relatively high carrier mobility and is suitable as a channel layer material for a TFT, from an oxynitride crystalline thin film. According to the present invention, a crystalline oxynitride semiconductor thin film is obtained by annealing an amorphous oxynitride semiconductor thin film containing In, O, and N or an amorphous oxynitride semiconductor thin film containing In, O, N, and an additional element M, where M is one or more elements selected from among Zn, Ga, Ti, Si, Ge, Sn, W, Mg, Al, Y and rare earth elements, at a heating temperature of 200° C. or more for a heating time of 1 minute to 120 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Eiichiro NISHIMURA, Tokuyuki NAKAYAMA, Masashi IWARA
  • Publication number: 20150287830
    Abstract: An oxide crystalline thin film is used to provide an oxide semiconductor thin film that has comparatively high carrier mobility and is suitable as TFT channel layer material. Oxide semiconductor thin film is obtained by performing an annealing process on an amorphous oxide semiconductor thin film comprising an oxide including indium and titanium where the titanium content is 0.005 to 0.12 by a Ti/In atomic ratio at a heating temperature of 250° C. or greater and processing time of 1 minute to 120 minutes. The oxide semiconductor thin film is crystalline and comprises only the In2O3 phase of bixbyite type structure, and has carrier density that is 1×1019 cm?3, and carrier mobility that is 1 cm2/Vsec or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20150279943
    Abstract: An oxide crystalline thin film having a comparatively high carrier mobility and suitable as TFT channel layer material is provided. The oxide semiconductor thin film of the present invention comprises an oxide that includes indium and tungsten, with the tungsten content in the W/In atomic ratio being 0.005 to 0.12, is crystalline, comprises only the In2O3 phase of bixbyite structure, and has a carrier density of 1×1018 cm?3 or less and a carrier mobility of higher than 1 cm2/Vsec. The oxide is able to include zinc further with the zinc content in the Z/In atomic ratio of 0.05 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20150235820
    Abstract: A target for sputtering which enables to attain high rate film-formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a blue LED or a solar cell. A oxide sintered body includes an indium oxide and a cerium oxide, and one or more oxide of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, molybdenum and tungsten. The cerium content is 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce), and the content of cerium is equal to or lower than 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce). The oxide sintered body has an In2O3 phase of a bixbyite structure has a CeO2 phase of a fluorite-type structure finely dispersed as crystal grains having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 3 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20150206615
    Abstract: A tablet for ion plating which allows high speed formation of transparent conductive films suitable for solar cells and allows continuous film formation without causing cracks, breakage or splashing. A sintered oxide includes indium oxide as a main component and tin as an additive element, and having a tin content of 0.001 to 0.15 in terms of an atomic ratio of Sn/(In+Sn). The sintered oxide mainly includes crystal grains (A) having a tin content that is less than an average tin content of the sintered oxide and crystal grains (B) having a tin content that is at or above the average tin content of the sintered oxide, the difference in the average tin content between the crystal grains (B) and the crystal grains (A) being 0.015 or more in terms of the atomic ratio of Sn/(In+Sn), and has a density of 3.4 to 5.5 g/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9045821
    Abstract: Provided is a laminate which includes a transparent conductive film layer that is composed of an oxide thin film mainly composed of titanium oxide and contains an additional element such as niobium, and also contains an anatase phase having more excellent crystallinity and further has high refractive index and low resistivity by forming an optimal buffer layer on the substrate. Also provided are: a semiconductor light emitting element which comprises the laminate; and a functional element such as a solar cell, which includes the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., Tohoku University
    Inventors: Shigefusa Chichibu, Kouji Hazu, Tokuyuki Nakayama, Akikazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9028721
    Abstract: A target for sputtering which enables to attain high rate film-formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a blue LED or a solar cell. A oxide sintered body includes an indium oxide and a cerium oxide, and one or more oxide of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, molybdenum and tungsten. The cerium content is 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce+M), the M element content is equal to or lower than 1% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of M/(In+Ce+M), and the total content of cerium and the M element is equal to or lower than 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of (Ce+M)/(In+Ce+M). The oxide sintered body has an In2O3 phase of a bixbyite structure has a CeO2 phase of a fluorite-type structure finely dispersed as crystal grains having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 3 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9005487
    Abstract: A tablet for ion plating enables to attain high rate film-formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a blue LED or a solar cell, and a noduleless film-formation not generating splash, an oxide sintered body most suitable for obtaining the same, and a production method thereof. A tablet for ion plating obtained by processing an oxide sintered body includes indium and cerium as oxides, and having a cerium content of 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce). The oxide sintered body has an In2O3 phase of a bixbyite structure as a main crystal phase, has a CeO2 phase of a fluorite-type structure finely dispersed as crystal grains having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 3 ?m, as a second phase. The oxide sintered body is produced by (a) mixing raw material powder consisting of indium oxide powder with an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8801973
    Abstract: A target for sputtering or a tablet for ion plating, an oxide sintered body suitable for obtaining the same and a production method therefor, and a transparent conductive film having low absorption of blue light and low specific resistance, obtained by using the same are provided by an oxide sintered body having indium and gallium as an oxide, characterized in that an In2O3 phase with a bixbyite-type structure forms a major crystal phase, and a GaInO3 phase of a ?-Ga2O3-type structure, or GaInO3 phase and a (Ga, In)2O3 phase is finely dispersed therein, as a crystal grain having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 5 ?m, and a content of gallium is equal to or higher than 10% by atom and below 25% by atom as atom number ratio of Ga/(In+Ga) or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8757902
    Abstract: A black heat resistant light shading film usable as a shutter blade or a fixed diaphragm, a diaphragm blade for a diaphragm device for a light intensity adjusting module. The black heat resistant light shading film is formed with fine unevennesses at the both surfaces of a resin film having a heat resistance of 155° C. or higher. The resin film is a black film containing a black pigment and an inorganic filler and thickness of the black heat resistant light shading film is 25 ?m or less. Surface roughness (arithmetic average height Ra) of the both surfaces is 0.2 to 2.2 ?m and an average optical density, which is an index of light shading performance of light in a wavelength region of 380 to 780 nm, is 3.5 or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Toyobo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsushi Ono, Tokuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8728635
    Abstract: An oxide sintered body having zinc oxide as a main component and containing magnesium, and a transparent conductive substrate are provided, and an oxide sintered body having zinc oxide and magnesium, wherein content of magnesium is from 0.02 to 0.30 as atom number ratio of Mg/(Zn+Mg); an oxide sintered body having zinc oxide, magnesium, gallium and/or aluminum, wherein content of gallium and/or aluminum is over 0 and equal to or lower than 0.09 as atom number ratio of (Ga+Al)/(Zn+Ga+Al), and content of magnesium is from 0.02 to 0.30 as atom number ratio of Mg/(Zn+Ga+Al+Mg); a target obtained by processing these oxide sintered bodies; and a transparent conductive film formed on a substrate by a sputtering method or an ion plating method, by using this target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8728615
    Abstract: A new transparent conductive laminated thin film is provided which not only has a high transmittance of light in the visible region and a low surface resistance (6-500?/?), but also combines high transmittances of light in the visible region of short wavelengths of 380-400 nm and the near-ultraviolet region of shorter wavelengths of 300-380 nm. The transparent conductive film has a lamination structure that the surfaces of the metallic thin film 11 are coated with the transparent oxide thin films 10 and 12. Each of the transparent oxide thin film 10 and 12 is an amorphous oxide thin film chiefly composed of gallium, indium, and oxygen or composed of gallium and oxygen, and the gallium content of each transparent oxide thin film ranges from 35 at. % to 100 at. % with respect to all metallic atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nakayama, Yoshiyuki Abe